Cover for refuse receptacles



May 4, 1937. M AMN; 2,079,052

COVER FOR REFUSE RECEPTACLES Filed Aug, 5, 1954 Patented May 4, 1937 COVER FOR REFUSE RECEPTACLES Mario Tamini, Milan, Italy, assign to Fiat Societa Anonima, Turin, Italy Application August 3, 1934, Serial No. 738,335 In Italy December 22, 1933 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a cover of rubber or other resilient material, which closes automatically and may be raised by means of a foot lever or by hand, and is adapted for use on receptacles for house refuse or similar stuffs which, for reasons of sanitation and decency, it is desired to hide and keep from the atmosphere.

'Receptacles and covers of this kind will conform to the necessary requirements if 1. They are of simple construction and free from any part that could hinder the emptying operation.

2. It is of such material and shape as to permit of thorough cleaning.

3. The deformation and wear that inevitably take place owing to transportation and rough handling do not make the cover unserviceable after a short time.

' 4. Each time matter is introduced there is no risk of its remaining open.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a cover which conforms with these requirements and permits the emptying operation without the necessity of removing the cover completely 5 from the receptacle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an operating device for such cover which fully complies with any service requirement.

The accompanying drawing shows by way of 0 example some constructional forms of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view partly in section of the receptacle in the closed position. I

Figure 2 shows the receptacle adapted to be operated by hand, in the open position, and

Figure 3 is a view in which the cover is being operated by a foot lever.

Figure 4 shows a modified form of the cover. Referring to the drawing, l is the cylindrical body of the receptacle provided at its upper part with a bead 2 and an ordinary handle 3. A cover 4 of resilient material, for instance rubber, is adapted to be fitted on the receptacle and is provided with a flange 5 on about one half of its periphery and with an inner groove 6, in which the bead 2 of the receptacle fits when the cover is applied thereto. The other half of the periphery of the cover is provided with an outwardly 30 extended edge 1 embracing the bead 2 of the receptacle.

The two front ends of the flange 5 are connected together by a band l5 also of resilient material such as rubber arranged at a distance 55 from the outwardly extended edge I and under the head 2 against the wall of the receptacle thus securing the cover on the receptacle.

The portion of the cover detached from the bead 2 fits by its own weight and elasticity on the mouth of the receptacle in such a manner 5 that said cover provides a tight closure even when the mouth of the receptacle has been deformed.

.A strap 8 is attached to the cover 4 and serves both as a closing means and as a handle. When 10 the strap is pulled upwards (Fig. 2) the detached portion of the cover 4 is raised and uncovers the mouth of thereceptacle. The opening may be effected to a greater or lesser extent according as to whether the cover is more or less detached 5 from the band- I5 and may be controlled according to the size of the material to be introduced into or taken out from the receptacle so that the contents thereof are covered as much as possible, thus preventing the escape of dust, nasty smell 20 etc. 7

As soon as the handle is released, the cover falls down on the mouth of the receptacle by its own weight, and, owing to its elasticity, without shock and noise-thus ensuring a perfect closure. 25

There are circumstances in which it might be desirable to secure also the movable part of the cover to the receptacle. Such an arrangement would, for example eliminate the risk of scattering the contents during transport. In such cases various closure devices may be used.

In the example shown, the strap 8 is utilized for this purpose and carries at its opposite end a clamping ring 9, which engages a hook I 0 provided on the band l5.

According to the modified form shown in Figure 4, the cover 4 is secured in the closed position by means of a rubber ring II of such shape as to hold the peripheral edge of the cover resiliently and tightly on the head 2 of the mouth of the receptacle.

When it is desired to remove the cover for emptying the receptacle or for cleaning and sterilization purposes, it will be sufiicient to seize the cover at any portion of its edge and pull it upwards, overcoming by a very small effort the resilient adherence of said edge to the receptacle and the resistance of the bead.

Owing to its simple construction and form, and owing to the material of which it is constituted it is obvious that the receptacle permits of easy transportation and thorough cleaning and washing, without any risk of leaving residue or solving and disinfecting liquid therein.

When these operations have been accomplished or at any desired or convenient moment the cover may be placed again on the receptacle, and, owing to its resiliency a quick and perfect adherence will be obtained even if the cover is placed on a receptacle which has undergone a considerable deformation.

If the cover applied to the receptacle is to be raised by means of a foot lever (which in most cases is not only more convenient and practical but often necessary owing to reasons of sanitation and decency) a very simple and cheap device, as shown in Figure 3 is used.

A rope or strap 12 is attached at one end to the free end of the strap 8 secured to the cover, its other end being suitably attached to a board, metal sheet or hard rubber plate l3 at the foot of the receptacle.

The length of the rope is such that the board is partially raised from the ground. When a pressure is exerted by the foot on the board so that it will lie flat on the ground, the rope slips on the edge of the cover and the movable part thereof is pulled and bent upwards thus uncovering the mouth of the receptacle.

The opening will be eiiected to a greater or lesser extent according as to whether the board is more or less raised from the ground so that the path along which the raised end of the board moves to reach the ground is more or less long. Obviously, if a stiff metallic cover were used, a considerable efiort would be required to raise it and it would be necessary to use levers permitting of a favourable moment of rotation along the hinge. The rubber cover on the other hand is opened by gradually bending the cover material and the rope is always nearly parallel to the cover.

The sliding of the rope or strap on the edge of the cover is facilitated by a metallic part M in one piece or incorporated with the edge and slightly projecting therefrom. This metallic part is of sufficient length to allow of displacements due to the position in which the board is left. The board may be fixed to the ground or secured to a suitable part of the receptacle which may thus be removed from one place to another the foot lever operating device being left attached thereto.

The transportation of the receptacle to a distant place is effected by detaching the rope from the handle and removing the board from the receptacle if more convenient. The board and rope owing to the simplicity of their nature and use will but seldom require to be washed and cleaned. In any case a thorough cleaning is an easy matter at any place and by means available.

As will be readily appreciated the details of construction and form may be varied from those described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a receptacle having a beaded edge, a cover of resilient material, a flange on one portion of the periphery of said cover, said flange being provided with an inner groove, in which the beaded edge of said receptacle is adapted to engage when the cover is applied to its mouth, a band of resilient material connecting the ends of said flange and adapted to embrace said receptacle under its beaded edge, a short strap hinged to the portion of the cover detached from the edge of the receptacle, means on said band and strap for locking the cover in its closed position, said strap serving also as handle for raising the cover.

2. In combination with a receptacle having a beaded edge, a cover of resilient material, a flange on one portion of the periphery of said cover, said flange being provided with an inner groove, in which the beaded edge of said receptacle is adapted to engage when the cover is applied to its mouth, a band of resilient material connecting the ends of said flange and adapted to embrace said receptacle under its beaded edge, a short strap hinged to the portion of the cover detached from the edge of the receptacle, means on said band and strap for locking the cover in its closed position, said strap serving also for raising the cover, a lever for opening the cover and a flexible member connecting said lever to the free end of the strap.

3. In combination with a receptacle having a beaded edge, a cover of resilient material, a flange on one portion of the periphery of said cover, said flange being provided with an inner groove in which the beaded edge of said receptacle is adapted to engage when the cover is applied to its mouth and a band of resilient material connecting the ends of said flange and adapted to embrace said receptacle under its beaded edge, a ring of angular section adapted to be fitted on the peripheral edge of the cover in the closed position and on the edge of the mouth of the receptacle to press the peripheral edge of said cover against the beaded edge of said receptacle.

4. In combination with a receptacle having a beaded edge, a cover of resilient material, a flange on one portion of the periphery of said cover, said flange being provided with an inner groove,

in which the beaded edge of said receptacle is adapted to engage when the cover is applied to its mouth, a band of resilient material connecting the ends of said flange and adapted to embrace said receptacle under its beaded edge, a short strap hinged to the portion of the cover detached from the edge 'of the receptacle, means on said band and strap for locking the cover in its closed position, said strap serving also as handle for raising the cover, a ring of angular section adapted to be fitted on the peripheral edge of the cover in the closed position and on the edge of the mouth of the receptacle to press the peripheral edge of said cover against the beaded edge of said receptacle.

5. In combination with a receptacle having a beaded edge, a cover of resilient material, a flange on one portion of the periphery of said cover, said flange being provided with an inner groove in which the beaded edge of said receptacle engages when the cover is applied to its mouth and a portion of said cover deprived of the flange providing a flap adapted to be raised by the user but closing automatically by the elasticity of the cover material.

6. In combination with a receptacle having a beaded edge, a cover of resilient material, a flange on one portion of the periphery of said cover, said flange being provided with an inner groove in which the beaded edge of said receptacle engages when the cover is applied to its mouth and a band of resilient material connecting the ends of said flange and adapted to embrace said receptacle under its beaded edge and a portion of said cover deprived of the flange providing a flap adapted to be raised by the user but closing automatically by the elasticity of the cover material.

'7. In combination with a receptacle having a beaded edge, a cover of resilient material, a flange on one portion of the periphery of said cover, said flange being provided with an inner groove in which the beaded edge of said receptacle engages when the cover is applied to its mouth and a band of resilient material connecting the ends of said flange and embracing said receptacle under its beaded edgevand a. flap formed by the portion of said cover which is deprived of the flange and adapted to be raised by the user but closing automatically by the elasticity of the cover material, and cooperating means on the flap and 10 on said band for locking said flap in the closed position.

8. In combination with a receptacle, a cover of resilient material, a flange of resilient material on one portion of said cover embracing the edge of the receptacle, means for holding said flange closely adjacent to the edge of the receptacle, a flap formedby the portion of said cover which is deprived of the flange and adapted to be raised v by the user when the cover is applied to the mouth of the receptacle but closing automatically by the elasticity of the cover material.

MARIO TAMINI. 

